Elevator position or signal indicating circuit



April 10, 1956 H. E. GALANTY 2,741,755

ELEvAIoR PosIIIoN 0R SIGNAL INDICAIING CIRCUIT Filed April 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l PL2 :GR La RLI R14 27 cnn-[L zu 20 '2 cuo 714210 2 ,I, C19 3429 24 22 cle 'lfcza PI Q/ '"1 35 cn H427 32 cib 11i/c2@ 22 l c5{] Ufczs '0 /ILU 22 cm, 1MM

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IIIII'LIY EGA BY 6MM ATTORNEY April 10, 1956 H. E. GALANTY 2,741,755

ELEVATOR POSITION OR SIGNAL INDICATING CIRCUIT Filed April 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y @Jim ATTORN EY April 10, 1956 H. E. GALANTY 2,741,755

ELEVATOR POSITION OR SIGNAL INDICATING CIRCUIT Fl HFOLDDM/APDGAMHNTIINVENTOR @Y ATTORNEY United States Patent O ELEVATOR POSITION R SIGNAL INDICATIN G IRCUlT Harold Edward Galanty, Hillside, N. J., assigner to Otis Elevator Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey The invention relates to signalling circuits and to control circuits especially those employed in elevator installations.

The invention is of particular utility in elevator systems and will be described for that application. There are various signalling circuits and control circuits which extend between points which are a considerable distance apart. For example, the car position indicator circuits extend from commutating mechanism in the penthouse to the elevator car and/ or lobby door (at the car entrance or the starters panel) and in some instances to each oor served by the car. The hall lantern circuits extend from commutating mechanism in the penthouse to the various oors. Waiting passenger indicator circuits may extend from the various floors or from the control panel in the penthouse to the elevator car or to the starters panel in the lobby. Car button circuits extend from the elevator car to car actuated control mechanism in the penthouse. In all of these and similar circuits, it is important that they be economically installed.

The object of the invention is to minimize the number of wires utilized in such signalling, control and similar circuits.

The invention is characterized by its simplicity. It involves eliecting the connection between points by three or more feed wires utilized in different pairs to provide the desired signalling or control circuits. According to one arrangement, the invention also involves polarization of the connections to the feed wires, thus effecting a further reduction in the number of feed wires for a given number of circuits.

For example, in applying the invention to a position indicator for an elevator car, the position indicator lamps are connected across different pairs of feed wires and the voltage applied to the various pairs of wires is commutated in such way as to eect the illumination of the position indicator lamps in accordance with the position of the car. With polarized connections of the lamps, a twelve door indicator, for example, can be operated from four feed wires, a twenty door indicator from tive wires, and so on.

Features and advantages of the invention will be seen from the description which follows and from the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view, with parts broken away, of a position indicator xture suitable for use in connection with the invention;

Figure 2 is a View along the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a schematic wiring diagram of position indicator circuits embodying the invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic wiring diagram of interconnected position indicator circuits embodying the invention as applied to two elevators;

Figure 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of hall lantern circuits embodying the invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of waiting passenger indicator circuits embodying the invention;

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Figure 7 is a schematic wiring diagram of car button control circuits embodying the invention;

Figure 8 is a schematic wiring diagram of circuits in which reverse polarities are not employed, illustrated as applied to a position indicator; and

Figure 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of still another arrangement of circuits, illustrated as applied to a position indicator.

Referring first to Figures l and 2, the position indicator fixture there illustrated is especially suitable for use within the elevator car, in a starters panel or at the lobby. lt comprises a casing l0 having an elongated extrusion 11 secured to the bottom of the casing as by screws 12. This extrusion is formed with a longitudinal channel 13 into which are slid a plurality of nuts 14, one for each door for which the indicator is provided. A small plate 15 is secured as by a screw 16 to each of these nuts with the plates positioned in accordance with the desired positions of the indicator lamps. These indicator lamps are designated PI and are preferably miniature neon lamps of the cathode glow type. Lamp sockets 20, one for each lamp, are secured as by screws 2l to the corresponding plates. 22 are terminal screws for connecting the lamps in the system. Lugs 23 are formed on each socket for receiving and locating a light shield 24. These shields extend from the sockets to the face plate 2'5. This face plate is secured to the casing as by screws 26 cooperating with threaded brackets 27 welded to the casing. The face plate is illustrated as formed with apertures 30 in the shape or the designating numbers or characters for the floors served. Jewels 3,1 are provided with these numbers or characters moulded thereon to fit into apertures 30. The fixture is mounted as 'oy securing to angles 32 by screws 33 before the face plate is put in place.

Referring now to Figure 3, circuits are illustrated for a single car installation in which the car serves twelve oors, say a basement and doors l to ll inclusive. These circuits are for two position indicators connected in parallel. These indicators may be positioned, say one in the elevator car and one at the lobby. To differentiate between these indicators they will be designated generally as A and B. The lamps of each indicator are dilierentiated in accordance with the oors served by appending a numeral or character corresponding to the door for which the lamp is provided. For example, PIB designates a position indicator lamp for the basement while Pie designates a position indicator lamp for the sixth floor. Each lamp is a cold cathode gas diode, preferably a neon lamp of the cathode glow type as above indicated. Referring for example to the lifth door lamp for indicator A, the anode is designated AN and the cathode CA.

ri`he circuits for the indicator lamps are commutated by car actuated mechanism. This mechanism has been illustrated as two columns of stationary contacts, one contact in each column for each floor, and a pair of brushes, one for each column, movable in accordance with car movement. These may be provided on a selector or floor controller as is well understood in the art. The columns are dilerentiated as 1 and 2, the brushes being designated BRl and BRZ and the stationary contacts as C1 and C2. The stationary contacts are further diiierentiated as to oors by appending reference characters indicative of these doors, as for example, ClB indicating the contact for the basement in column 1 and C26 indicating the contact for the sixti floor in column 2. Brushes BRl and BRZ are supplied with direct current from supply lines which are designated -I- and In accordance with the invention, the connection of the position indicators to the commutating mechanism is effected with only four feed wires. These feed wires are designated I, Il, III and IV. Position indicator A is conamines 'l D nected to these feed wires by four wires correspondingly designated 1a,'11a, lila and lVzz while position'indicator B is connected to the feed wires in parallel with indicator A by correspondingly designated wires il), llb, Illb and lVl. Connecting wires 1x, llx, lllx and IVx are included to indicate that any number of additional indicators may be connected in parallel with indicators A and B, as for example, one at each floor served.

The neon lamps are connected across different pairs of wires, two lamps to each pair of wires. T he neon lamps are inherently unidirectionally conductive so that by mercly connecting two lamps across each pair of wires, only one lamp is lighted at a time depending upon the polarity of the applied voltage. By controlling the polarity of excitation applied to the lamps a total of twelve lamps can be individually lighted off four feed Wires. ln the arrangement shown for indicator A for example: lamp PlB is connected across Wires In and ila; lamp Pil across wires la and illu; lamp P12 reversely across wires la and lila; lamp P13 across wires lla and illu; lamp P14 reversely across wires lla and Hic; lamp PES across wires la' and lVa; lamp P16 reversely across wires 1a and Iva; lamp Pl? across wires lla and lVn; lamp Pi reversely across wires iin' and lVa; lamp Pl?? across wires Illa and lVa; lamp Plitt? reversely across wires lila and lVa; and lamp Pill across wires 1n and lia 'out reversely with respect to lamp PIB. It is preferred to connect the lamps for the top and. bottom floors across the same pair of wires as this facilitates standardization of connection for different numbers of iioors.

The circuits are commutated to light individually these lamps by connecting the pairs of stationary contacts for `the corresponding floors across corresponding pairs of feed wires, with lthe two pairs of contacts connected across each pair of feed wires revcrsely connected to provide the proper polarity of excitation for the lamps. contacts (2l-E. and C213 are connected across wires I and ll; contacts Cil and C2i across wires I and H1; contacts C12 and-C22 across wires 1 and lll but reversed; contacts Cif and C23 across wires il and lll; contacts C14 and C24 across wires il and 111 but reversed; contacts C andC25 acrosswires l and 1V; contacts C16 and C26 across wires I and IV but reversed; contacts Cl7 and C27 across wires l1 and iV; contacts Clli and C28 across wires Il and lV but reversed; contacts C19 and C29 across wires lll and 1V; contacts C11@ and CZlil across wires Ill and lV but reversed; and contacts Clit and @2li across wires I and 'il but reversed with respect to the connection Yof contacts C1B and CZB across these wires.

Resistors Riel, RLZ, Ri and RL/i are loading resistors. Theresistors are respectively connected to the feed wires and are connected together at their other ends and where the direct current power supply is ungrounded, the juno tion point is connected to ground GR. These loading resistors are provided to prevent unwanted lighting of the neon lamps by leakage currents. The grounding ot the junction point is to obviate any unwanted glowing of the lamps due to capacity eiects as a result ot any potential which might exist between the direct current source and ground. Resistors HB1, RBZ, RBS and RBd are bailast or current limiting resistors for each indicator. .1t is to be noted that only the same number of ballast resistors are employed for cach indicator as there are feed wires. whereas the loading resistors are common to the network and only a total of four are employed. Capacitors CAE., CA2, GA3 and CAd are provided for each indicator, connected from a common junction point to the respective t'eed wires. These are to obviate any unwanted reverse polarity breakdown of the lamps due to current surges.

1n operation, with the car standing at the basement, the

condition illustrated in the circuit diagram, a circuit is completed'from the positive supply line -lthrough brush BRI and contact C1B in the penthouse to feed wire l, down the hoistway by way or" feed wire l to say position indicator A, thence by way of Wire la, resistorRBl,y lamp Thus d PIB, wire Ila, resistor RBZ to feed wire II, up the hoistwayby way of'feed wire l1 and thence through contact C23 and brush BPCl to the negative supply line This causes lamp PIB to glow, being unidirectionally conductive and having its anode connected to the positive supply line. As the car moves up the hoistway, brushes BR leave contacts CB, breaking the circuit for lamp PIB and engage contacts Cl to complete a circuit for .lamp Plll. Tracing this circuitmore brieily, it is from line brush BRL contact C11, wires I and 1a, resistor. RBI, lamp lili, wire Illa, resistor RB3, wire IH, contact C2i,` brush BRZ to line This causes lamp P11` to be illuminated. As the brushes move from contacts C1 to contacts C2, lamp PH. is extinguished and lamp .PE2 is i1- luminated, the circuit being from line +,Ybrush BRI, contact ClZ, wires lll and Illa, resistor R83, lamp P12, wire lo, resistor RBl, wire 1, contact C22, brush BR2 to line It is to be noted that with this connection wire IIIa becomes positive and wire 1a becomes negative, reversing the. excitation. As lamp P13 is connected across these wires oppositely to lamp P12, lamp P13 is illuminated whereas lamp P12 is not. It is believed that it will be seen without further detailed description that: as the car moves to the third floor, voltage is applied Ito wires Il and 111 of a polarity to cause illumination of lamp P13; as the car moves to the fourth tloor, voltage is again applied to wires ll and 111 but of opposite polarity to cause illumination of lamp P14; as the car moves to the fifth and sixth oors, voltage is applied to wires l and iV but of opposite polarities to cause illumination respectively of lamps P15 and P16; as the car moves to the seventh and eigth doors, voltage is applied to wires 1l and lV but of opposite polarities to cause illumination respectively of lamps P17 and P13; as the car moves to the ninth and tenth floors, voltage is 'applied to wire 11i and lV but of opposite po-l larities to cause illumination respectively of lamps P19v and P; and as the car moves to the eleventhoor, voltage is applied to wires l and ll of a polarity opposite to that of the voltage applied to these wires with the car at the basement, causing the illumination of lamp Pill.

1t will be seen that the lamps of position indicator-B are lighted the same as those of indicator A, being connected in parallel therewith. Also, it will be seen that during downward car travel the position indicator lamps are illuminated in reverse sequence, the circuits for the respective lamps being the same as for up car travel. lt is to be noted that when voltage is applied to a lamp, it is also applied to other combinations of lamps in series relation and with the proper polarity for lighting these lamps. For example, when the brushes engage the base.y ment contacts as illustrated, not only is voltage of properv breakdown polarity applied to lamp PIB, but also to lamps P13. and Pla in series, to lamps Pil, P19 and P18 in series, to lamps Pior and Pi in series, and to lamps PI5,. P19 and Plain series. However, thesey other lamps aret not illuminated because the voltage employed, .whileofi a value to -break down one lamp across the feed wiresis insuilcient to cause breakdown of two or three lamps in series relationship.

Thus, it is seen that a twelve floor position indicator canbe operated ott only four feed wires. Inasmuch as these feed wires may run the full length ofthe hoistway, this involves a substantial saving in labor and material and thus in time and cost of installation. Also, where the indicator is located in the car, the weight ofv the travelling,- cable is materially reduced.

Reference may now be had to Figure 4 which illustrates interconnected position indicator circuits for two elevators embodying the invention. The commutating mechanism `for car No. l is illustrated to the left of the feed wires while that for car No. 2 is illustrated to the. right. To differentiate the corresponding parts of these mechanisms, their designating charactersare appended tothe numeral l in the case of elevator No.- l and to the numeral 2 inthe case of elevator No. 2. Thus,'for example, 1BR-2 design nates the brush of the cummutating mechanism for elevator No. 1 which engages the contacts of column 2 of that mechanism and 2C16 designates the stationary contact of the commutating mechanism for elevator No. 2 in column 1 for the sixth floor. To prevent undesired operations, the circuits are arranged so that voltage is applied to only one pair of brushes at a time. This is effected in the arrangement illustrated by connecting the pairs of brushes to a source of alternating current through rectiers, those designated 2R51 and 2RE2 for brushes 2BR1 and ZBRZ being connected oppositely to those designated 1RE1 and 1RE2 for brushes 1BR1 and 1BR2. With the rectifiers connected as indicated, when Voltage is applied to brushes 1BR1 and 1BR2, brush lBRl is positive and brush 1BR2 is negative. Similarly, when voltage is applied to brushes 2BR1 and 2BR2, brush 28121 is positive and brush 2BR2 is negative. The alternating current supply lines are designated L1 and L2.

The position indicator lamps for both cars are connected across the same feed wires. Because of space limitations, circuits for only six floors are illustrated or for a total of twelve lamps. The position indicators are distinguished generally by relating them in brackets respectively to the legends car No. l and car No. 2. As a further distinction, the designation PI for the lamp is appended to the numeral l in the case of the position indicator for car No. l and to the numeral 2 in the case of the position indicator for car No. 2. Thus, for example, 1PI4 designates car No. l position indicator lamp for the fourth oor. With both cars positioned at the first floor as indicated by the circuits, voltage is applied during one half cycle to brushes 1BR1 and 1BR2 and during the other half cycle to brushes 2BR1 and 2BR2, rectiiiers ZREI and ZREZ blocking the flow of current to brushes ZBRI and ZBRZ during each of the rst mentioned half cycles and rectifiers 1RE1 and 1RE2 blocking the ow of current to brushes 1BR1 and IBRZ. Thus during each of the first mentioned half cycles, current ows from line L1 by way of rectifier 1RE1, brush 1BR1, contact 1G11, wires I and Ia, resistor RB1, lamp 1PI1, wire IIa, resistor R132, wire II, contact 1C21, brush 1BR2 and rectifier IREZ to line L2. This causes the illumination of lamp 1F11. During each of the other half cycles, current ows from line L2 by way of rectifier 2RE1, brush ZBRI, contact 2G11, wires I and Ia, resistor RBI, lamp 2PI1, resistor RB4, wire IVa, wire IV, contact 2G21, brush 2BR2 and rectitier 2RE2 to line L1. This causes illumination of lamp 2PI1. Thus the first oor position indicator lamps for both cars are illuminated.

It is believed that it will be seen from previous description that: when car No. 1 is opposite the second floor, voltage is applied to wires I and III of a polarity to cause illumination of its second floor position indicator lamp 1F12; when the car is opposite the third floor, voltage is again applied to wires I and III but of opposite polarity to cause illumination of lamp 1F13; when the car is opposite the fourth and fifth oors, voltage is applied to wires II and III of the proper polarity to cause illumination of lamps 1PI4 and 1F15 respectively; and when the car is opposite the sixth oor, voltage is applied to wires I and II of a polarity to cause illumina* tion of lamp 1PI6. Similarly, when car No. 2 is opposite the second and third oors, voltage is applied to Wires II and IV of the proper polarity to cause illumination of lamps ZPIZ and 2PI3 respectively; when the car is opposite the fourth and fifth floors, voltage is applied to wires III and IV of the proper polarity to cause illumination of lamps 2PI4 and 2F15 respectively; and when the car is opposite the sixth oor, voltage is applied to wires I and IV of a polarity to cause illumination of lamp 2P16. This arrangement has the advantages set forth in discussing Figure 3 and also effects considerable saving in wires over arrangements such as shown in Figure 3 applied to the elevators individually. It is to be understood that the invention is applicable to interconnected position indicator circuits for more than two elevators, 'as by applying voltage to the pairs of brushes of the respective communicating mechanisms, one pair at a time. In interconnected position indicator circuits where the position indicators are located in the cars, the number of wires in the respective travelling cables is minimized by confining the reverse connections across each pair of feed wires to the same elevator in so far as possible. This has been indicated in Figure 4 where the lamps for car No. l are supplied by feed wires I, Il and III and those for car No. 2 by feed wires I, II, III and IV.

Reference may now be had to Figure S which illustrates an application of the invention to hall lantern circuits for an elevator car. The hall lanterns are usually located over the doors at the landings for which they are provided and are illuminated to indicate that a stop is about to be made and the direction in which the car is to leave the iioor. inasmuch as the invention contemplates the use of various forms of signals in the various signalling circuits to which the invention is applicable, including the position indicator circuits previously described and the hall lantern circuits about to be described, the hall lantern circuits have been illustrated by way of example as utilizing incandescent lamps instead of neon lamps. In order to polarize these lamps, rectiers are provided in series with the lamps. Also, gongs are connected in circuit with the hall lanterns, one gong for each floor. Hall lantern circuits for a seven oor installation have been illustrated. With an up lantern and a down lantern at each intermediate floor, this makes a total of twelve lamps. The lanterns are designated generally as L, differentiation between up lanterns and down lanterns being by the letters U and D to which the letter L is appended. The gongs are designated G. The rectitiers are designated RE and are differentiated between up circuits and down circuits by appending this characterization to the letter U or D. Whereas the' stationary contacts of the position indicator commutating mechanism have been illustrated as long contacts and the brushes moved in synchronism with car movement, the commutating mechanism for the hall lantern circuits is illustrated as of the type used in a system in which the brushes are advanced with respect to the car in starting and when a call is picked up are locked onto the contacts for the lloor for which the call is registered with the advance taken up by the continual movement of the car. This gives advance hall lantern indication, such an arrangement being illustrated for example in the patent to Dunn and Larson No. 2,074,578, granted March 23, 1937. The stationary contacts may be short in such a system. These contacts are designated LC and are differentiated as to column by appending thereto the numerals 1 and 2. The brush for engaging the contacts of column 1 is designated LBl and that for engaging the contacts of column 2 is designated LEZ. Contacts HRI, HRZ, HRS and HR4 are contacts of an electromagnet controlled in accordance with the next direction of car travel. S designates contacts which engage when a call is picked up and separate incident to the next starting operation as is well understood in the art.

In operation, assume that the car is standing at the first floor in accordance with the illustrated position of the brushes LB. Under such conditions, contacts HRI and HR4 are engaged and contacts HRZ and HRS vare separated as the next direction of car travel will be up. This completes a circuit from line through contacts S and HRI, brush LB1, contact LC11, wire l, gong G1, rectiier REl, lantern ULI, wire II, contact LC21, brush LB2 and contact HR4 to line This causes the lighting of the rst floor hall lantern. Incident to the starting of the car from the irst oor, contacts S separate, causing discontinuance of the lantern illumination, and brushes LB1 and LBZ advance with respect to the car. lf an up call is in registration `for the second tioor, the brushes upon engaging the second floor contacts are locked in amines Lthe up third oor call is picked up, voltage is applied to wires I and'IV of a polarity to cause illumination of up third floor hall lantern ULS; as the up fourth floor call is picked up, voltage is applied to wires II and III of a polarity `to cause illumination of lantern UL'd; as the up fthoor call. is picked up, voltage is applied to wires II and IV of a polarity to cause illumination of up ftlifloor hall lantern ULSgand as the up sixth floor call is picked up, voltage is applied to wires III and IV of .a polarity to cause illumination of up sixth floor halllantern ULG. Assume also a call at the seventh floor. This .is the highest call which can be answered and under such conditions, incident to the picking upof the call, switch HR drops out separating contacts HRI and HRQ and engaging contacts HRZ and HRB. This reverses the polarity of the brushes so that voltage is applied to wires I and II. of a polarity to cause the illumination of the seventh floor hall lantern DL7. Similarly, should a down call .at an intermediate floor be the highest call registered, it is picked up by the car on its up trip and switch HR is dropped out incident to the picking up of the call. Thus the polarity applied to the .feed wires for thev particular floor is reversed from what it would be for arrup call above described,.causing the down lantern' at that floor to be illuminated.

During the downward trip of the car, contacts HRZ and HR3 are engaged, rendering when contacts S engage, brush. LB2y positive and brush .LBll negative. Thus as suming a vdowncall at the fifth floor for example, upon the call being picked up, voltage is applied tofeed wires Il and IV of a polarity to cause illumination of the fifth floor down hall lantern DLS. It is believed that, in view of the above description, it will be understood that where down calls are picked up at other intermediate floorsthe corresponding down hall lanterns are illuminated. As the car approaches the rst iloor, switch HR is reoperated, causing .the engagement of contacts HRI and HR4 and the separation of contacts HRZ and HRB. Thus with the completion of the. circuit tozthe brushes, voltage is applied to wiresvI and II of a polarity to cause the lighting of. ltheV first floor .hall lantern. The load .resistors -RL for arrangements .in which incandescent lamps are used, are of low enough ohmic value to insure that the voltage across lamps in series relationship in circuits paralleling the one for .the illuminated lamp is insuicient to cause these. lamps to glow, thus obviating unwanted operations.

Reference may now be had to Figure 6 which illustrates an application of the invention to waiting passenger. indicator or annunciator circuits. Waiting' passenger indicators are provided to indicate the various calls that are registered and are usually positioned in the elevator. cars and at the starters stations. For convenience, the waiting passenger indicator lamps areindicated as'y neon lamps. Circuits for a total of twelve lamps have .been illustrated, sufficient for a seven floor installation in which bothan up call and a down call may be registered from each .intermediate iloor. The waiting passengerindicator lamps are designated generally. as WP and differentiated as to up and down by the letters U and D. inasmuch as there may be more than one call in registration at a time,..to avoid undesirable operations,.the application of voltage to. the feed wires iscommutated in. suchway that.

voltage'can be applied toonlyone lamp. at-a time. This may bc'efected .in various ways.- One. effective method. would. be to utilize a rotating beam electronic tube.v For convenience a commutat-ng device of therotating gang switch type has f been. .illustrated which nhas. three stages of stationary contacts.. These. contacts are .illustratedas arranged -in vertical columns, the contacts of .the different columns being designated generally asl, 2 and 3.. The connection of the contacts of the third column-are controlled by call registering contacts, such as provided on iioor relays. These contacts are dilerentiated as to oors by the floor numbers and asl to direction .by the letters U and D. For convenience, these designations will be utilized to designate the horizontal rows of commutator contacts and call registering contacts. The cornmutating mechanism contacts of each columnare engagedV in succession by brushes designated B. and differentiated as to columns by the numerals I, 2 and 3. The positive side of the supply lines is connected to brush B1 while the negative side is connected to onensidevofthercall registering contacts.. The mechanism for. rotating the brushes is not illustrated but it is to be understood that it may be .of the high speed type, say thirty revolutions per second, to satisfy persistence of vision requirements.

Assume that a down-call is in registration .for the third floor and that an up call .is in registration for the fth floor. Each time the brushes engage the contacts in row 3D, a circuit is completed from line by way of brush Bl, left-hand Contact, wires I and la, resistor RBI, Wait-y ing passenger indicator lamp DVS/P3, Wire IVa, resistor RBl, wire lV, intermediate contact, brushes B2 and B3, right-hand contact, contacts 3D to line Also, each time the brushes engage the contacts in row 5U, voltage isapplied by way of wires IV and Il of a polarity to cause the lighting of lamp Ulli/P5.l Due to the rapidity with which the voltage pulses are applledto these lamps, they give the appearance of steady illumination.

It is believed that it will be understood that when any call is registered, voltage of the proper polarity isap, plied to the corresponding waiting passenger indicating lamp to cause the lampto be illuminated.. Also this operation is effected without unwanted operationsfdue to the fact that only one circuit is completed at'a time.- As pointed out above, commutation of the appliedvoltage for the waiting passenger indicator circuits may be effected in various ways and the same principles may be employed in commutating thefvoltage applied to the pair of selector brushes for interconnected position .indicator circuits for a plurality of elevators,; previously referred to.

Reference may -now be had to Figure 7 whichiillus trates .the invention applied to a control circuit. The control circuit illustrated is one inwhichbuttonswithin the car, one for each floor served, control .thestopping of the carat the floors for which the buttons are provided. The buttons are arranged to be held in operated condi tion .and released either, as each call .registered thereby is cancelled, or at the end of the trip. The wires from the car buttons run from the car to commutating vmechanismin thecontrol room. This mechanismcomprises two columns of stationary contacts and abrushfor 'each column .for picking up the callsy registered by the car buttons. The picking up of a call is illustrated as effected by causing the operation of a call pick-up switch CP. In order to polarize the buttons, neonlarnps are illustrated inseries with the buttons. A twelve door-in stallationhas beenillustrated.. The car-.buttons are designated generally as CB, thepolarizing .lamps as PL, the commutating mechanism. brushes .as CPB .and the. sta-- tionary contactsas CPC. The two columns .of contacts and their .brushes are differentiated as 1 and2.

In operation, assume for example that. the third `floor car button C133 is pressed. This buttonis maintainedv operated,perrnitting the finger to be. removed... Uponl the. engagement. of brushes. CPBl and. `CPBZ-with con#4 tacts .CPCland .CPC23, a circuit is. vcompletedfrom.

line -lthrough brush CPBl, contact. CPC13, wire I,

lamp PLZ, button CP3V, wire III, contact.CPC23,. brush CPB2, and'coil of switch CP to line This pick's up.

the car call at the third oor which causes the car to be brought to a stop at the third floor. Had the fourth floor button been pressed, the call is picked up upon the engagement of the brushes with contacts CPC14 and CPC24. This engagement again applies voltage to wires I and III but with the polarity reversed and as the fourth oor car button circuit is polarized oppositely to the third oor car button circuit, the fourth oor button is effective to complete the circuit for the coil of switch CP. It is believed that it will seen without further detailed description that as the brushes engage pairs of contacts for dierent oors, voltage is applied to different pairs of wires I, II, III and IV and of a proper polarity to render the corresponding car button, if in operated condition, effective to cause operation of switch CP.

Thus it is seen from the above examples that the invention has various applications in elevator circuits and similar circuits and that a considerable saving in wiring is effected thereby. In accordance with the invention, with the polarizing arrangement, the number of circuits which may be fed from a given number of wires is in accordance with the equation: L=w2w, where L is the number of possible circuits and w is the number of feed wires. As the number of circuits desired for any particular installation is a known quantity, the number of feed wires which will supply these circuits is obtained from the above equation as follows: w2-w-L=0, this being a quadratic equation the solution for which is If upon solution w is not an integer, the number of wires used is the next above integer.

There may be advantage in certain instances in omitting the polarizing arrangement. A non-polarized arrangement is illustrated in Figure 8 applied by way of example to position indicator circuits. An arrangement for ten floors utilizing neon position indicator lamps is illustrated. The commutating mechanism is designated generally as CM. These circuits are supplied by tive wires in the hoistway. With this arrangement, current is supplied to lamp PII by way of wires I and II, to lamp P12 by way of wires I and III, to lamp P13 by way of Wires I and IV, to lamp P14 by way of wires I and V, to lamp P15 by way of wires II and III, and so on. The source of current for the system may be direct current or alternating current. With the non-polarized arrangement, the number of circuits which may be fed from a given number of feed wires is in accordance with the equation where again L is the number of possible circuits and w is the number of feed wires. Again as the number of desired circuits for any particular installation is known, the number of feed wires which will supply these circuits with a non-polarized arrangement is obtained from the above equation as follows: w2-w-2L=0, the solution for this quadratic equation being If w is not an integer, the number of wires becomes the integer next above.

Thus it is seen that while the non-polarized arrangement utilizes more wires than the polarized one, there is a considerable saving in wiring over the individual circuit arrangement. Comparative advantages of the N o. of Feed Wires No. of Circuits N ori-Polar- Individual med Polarized This may be extended in a similar manner for greater numbers of circuits. Thus it is seen that both the polarized and the non-polarized systems eifect considerable wiring saving as compared with the corresponding individual circuit arrangement. Also, it is seen that, while the non-polarized systems use more wires than the polarized ones, for certain numbers of circuits, the increase in the number of hoistway wires is not great.

Another arrangement for effecting a saving in wiring is illustrated as applied to position indicator circuits in Figure 9; In this arrangement are utilized but a single row of selector contacts designated generally as SC and differentiated by numerals indicative of the oors, and a single brush SB. The circuits are supplied from a source of alternating current, andthe circuits are polarized by means of rectifers at the commutating mechanism and utilizing neon lamps for the indicator. The rectiers are designed generally as RE and diierentiated by numerals indicative of the iioors. The neon lamps are illustrated as of the bidirectional glow discharge type. Such a tube can serve for two oors as where regional glow is utilized to indicate car position. These tubes are designated CP and differentiated by numerals indicative of the floors served. For example, lamp CP1-2 serves for the first and second oors. A twelve oor system has been illustrated by way of example. With this arrangement, the twelve circuits can be supplied by means of seven wires, namely one wire for each lamp designated I, II, III, IV, V and VI and a return Wire CW. A ballast resistor CR common to the lamps is connected in series relationship in the return wire circuit. Thus with the car at oor twelve for example, a circuit is completed through rectifier REIZ for lamp CP11-1Z, causing glow at its upper electrode. With the car at Hoor eleven, a circuit is completed through rectiiier RE11 for lamp CPM- 12, causing glow at its lower electrode, and so on.

It is to be noted that capacitors CA are not utilized where incandescent lamps are employed in the circuits. Also, these capacitors may be omitted in circuits employing neon lamps in certain instances, as for example in the arrangement illustrated in Figure 8 and also when the lamp characteristics are such that erroneous breakdown in the reverse direction due to sudden voltage pulses does not occur. The grounded connection may be omitted in certain instances. For example, the ground connection to the point of common connection of the load resistors RL would not be made where the power supply is grounded. While the ballast resistors have been illustrated in the feed wires, thus effecting a saving in these resistors as well as in wiring, it is to be understood that they may be individual to the lamps, especially when the ballast resistance is inherent in the lamp. While the invention has been described as applied to circuits involving lamps, gongs and push buttons, it is also applicable to circuits in which other forms of translating devices or circuit controlling devices are employed.

Therefore, as many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scopethereof, it is intended that all matter contained vin the above description or shown in' of polarized glow discharge lamps, one for each of saidV floors; a plurality of feed wires in said hoistway extending to said position indicator, the number of said 'feed wires being the minimum from which afnumber of different pairs of feed wires may be had corresponding to one-halfv the number of 1amps;means for connecting said lamps in groups of two in parallel respectivelyracross diierentJ pairs of feed wires with the polarity of connection of one lamp, ofeach pair opposite to` that of the other; a source of direct current; a plurality of pairs of stationary contacts,` each Apair Vcorresponding to one ofk `said lfloorsga pairv of brushes movable in accordance with car movement for engaging v`said contacts vone pair 2. In combination inapluralelevator system in which'.

the-elevator cars operating vin their hoistwaysservea plurality of oors; a position of the vcar indicator for each of said cars, eachrhavinga plurality of polariredv glowvdischarge lamps, one Ifor each of said floors; a plural'-,

ity of feed wires common to said position indicators, the number of said feed Wires being the minimum fromwhich afnumber of pairs of feed wires maybe had correspond` ing to half the total number vofl lamps of all 4of said .in-.

dicators, said lamps being respectively connected in pairs of opposite polarity across different pairs of feed wires; a source of current; and means to cause said source of current to be applied to'one indicator at a time, said means including mechanism foreach indicator for commutating the application of voltage from said source to said feed wires to cause, as the car reaches said oors, voltage of the proper polarityv to be applied to the lamps of that in-M dicator for such lloors to effect the lighting of the lamps.

3.Y In combination in a plural elevator system in which the elevator cars operating in their hoistways serve a plurality of floors; a position of the car indicator in each of'said cars,` each having a plurality of polarized glow discharge lamps, one for each of said floors; a plurality` of 4'feed'wires common to said position indicators, the number of said feed wires being the minimum from which a number of pairs of feedwires may be had in accordance with the equation where Lis the total number of lamps of all of saidindicators and w is the number of feed wires, said lamps of each indicator being respectively connected in pairs of oppositepolarity across dierent pairs of feed wires, the combinations of feed wires utilized for each indicator being different from those used for the others; a source of Icurrent; and means to cause said source of current to be applied to `one indicator at a time, said means in.

cluding .mechanism for each elevator for commutating the application of voltage from said source to the feed wires utilized for the indicator for that elevator to cause, as the. car reaches the oors, voltage of the proper polarity to beapplied-to the lamps of that indicator for suchv floors to effect the lighting of the lamps.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 823,164 Eble June 12, 1906 843,746 Hall Feb. 12, 1907 1,311,650 Johnson etal. July 29, 1919 1,878,872 Lucas Sept. 20, 1932 1,960,701 Gasparik May 29, 1934 2,224,709 Uehling Dec. 10, 1940 2,278,516 Gulliksen Apr. 7, 1942 2,303,423 Baum Dec. 1, 1942 2,352,742 Soffel July 4,y 1944 2,568,348 McCauley Sept. 18, 1951 2,620,395 Snijders Dec. 2, 1952'- FOREIGN PATENTS 3114,-1 12 GreatfvBritain June 24, 1929 332,031 Italy Nov. 21, 1935 

